Sheet-paper dispenser



H. P. DICKE RSON. SHEET PAPER DISPENSER. APPuemo'u FILED-JUNE $1920.

1,377,565. Patentd May 10,1921.

' Horace PDickerson WWWW' UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE ZP. DICKERSON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFERBIS I). FISK, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

SHEET-PAPER DISPENSER.

newness.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Homer. P. DICKER- son, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Paper Dispensers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dispensing ap paratus and has for an object toprovide a case for dispensing sheets of 1 paper, and more especiallypaper known as waxed paper or the like, employed for wrapping articlesof food, such as butter, meat and the like. An object of the inventionis to provide means for maintaining sheets of paper in a flat oruncurled condition and, while easy of access, to dispense single sheetstherefrom, and to provide means for closing thecabinet or case againstdirt and contamination.

Further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatuswhich, without change, maybe employed tooccupy a horizontal position assitting upon a counter or table, or vertical position hung from anyconvenient support.

lVith these and other objects in View the invention comprises certainnovel units, elements and combinations as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the d1spensingapparatus shown in vertical position, it being understood, however, thatit operates as well in horizontal position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken through the device being a verticalsection with the device located as at Fig. 1 and taken on line 22 ofthat figure.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the means for actuating the closureswith the device in vertical position.

Fig. 5 is a detail View showing the closures in a horizontal position.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

The improved dispensing apparatus, which forms the subject matter ofthis application, comprises a casing 10 having at its longitudinaledges, and centrally there- Specification of Le 'tei's Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed June 5, 1920. Serial No. 386,689.

of, upstanding ears 11. Extending transversely across between the ears11 is a bar or tube 12 over which the paper 13 forms a hump as indicatedat 14. A closure, comprising a cover member 15, is employed havingcentrally a cut-out portion which will fit over the ears 11 and permitsthe hump to extend upwardly above the lines of the cover member. Thecover member is attached to the casing 10 in any approved manner as byhinge 16 and any approved type of latch a simple hook 17 being shown.

Within the casing, a support 18 is employed having springs 19 so that,with the support 18 positioned under the paper 13, the tendency of thesprings 19 is to lift the support and the paper carried thereby towardand into engagement with the clo sure 15 with the hump 14 extendingabove the planeof the completed article. The device maybe employedwithout further additions thereto, the top sheet of paper singly beingremoved, by the user employing his thumb and finger on opposite sides ofthe hump, with a simultaneous closing and lifting motion. For sanitaryreasons, however, it is desirable to provide means for protecting thepaper. This will'consist of leaves 20 and 21 hinged to the closure 15 at22 and 23 respectively. The leaves 20 and 21 are curved to fit over theears 11 and to abut against each other centrally above the hump. Toinsure that the leaf 20 will remain closed at all times, when it isdesired that it should do so, a weight 24 is attached to the hinge 22 byan arm 25. From Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that this weight assistsin maintaining the leaf 20 in closed position whether the casing bevertical or horizontal. The leaf 21 is likewise provided with a weight26. When the device is used in a vertical position it is not necessarythat the lower leaf remain closed. For this purpose the weight 26 isattached by means of arm 27 at such an angle that when the leaf 21 ismoved downwardly into engagement with the closure 15 it is retained inthe position by its own weight and the added weight of the weight 26.When closed, as indicated at Fig. 1 and in dotted lines at Fig- 4, theweight 26 will maintain it in closed position. The leaf 20 is preferablyprovided with an upstanding rib 28 against which the hand of theoperator may be engaged to conveniently open the leaf 20 and havinginserted the finger under such leaf, the thumb is easily inserted underthe leaf 21, the sheet of paper being withdrawn, the cover members willclose to the position required. Means for supporting the device invertical position is shown in the ears 29. It will be seen, therefore,that whether the device be in vertical or horizontal position thecontents are protected by cover members which open readily at the touchof the user and close to such an extent as the position requires; towit; they both close when in horizontal position or the upper one closeswhen in a vertical position to protect the paper against dirt and thelike. I When the contents have been entirely dispensed by use, theclosure 15 is opened and an additional supply of sheets laid upon thesupport18, forming the hump over the bar 12 and the closure 15 returnedto position. The device is then in condition for use.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising, a housing having an opening in oneof its sides, means to maintain sheet material contents with a humpextending through the opening and a spring pressed follower engaging thesheets within the housing to support and maintain the sheets of materialinsuperposed flat relation against the side of the housing containingthe opening and cover members hinged upon opposite sides of the opening,adapted to close to a meeting line above the hump.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising, a

housing having an opening through one of its sides, abar extendingacross the opening positioned to produce a hump in sheet materialextending over the bar and upwardly through the opening and a springpressed follower engaging beneath the sheets of material in the housingand supporting the sheets in superposed fiat relation against the sideof the housing containing the opening.

8. A sheet dispensing apparatus comprising, a housing having an openingin one of its sides, means to maintain a hump of the sheet materialextending through the opening and above the lines of the housing andautomatically closing covers proportioned to meet and inclose the hump.

4. A dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having an opening in oneofits sides, means to maintain sheet material within the housing in flatsuperposed relation and with a hump extending outwardly through theopening and cover member hinged upon opposite sides of the opening,adapted to automatically close to a meeting line above the hump.

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having an opening in oneof its sides, a bar extending across the opening in a plane above theplane of the housing and closures hinged to the housing and meetingautomatically at a line above the bar. 7 r

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Memphis,Tennessee this 17th day of March, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty.

HORACE P. DICKERSON. ['L. s.] lVitnesses:

Fnnnrs FIsK, JOHN W. FARLEY.

